Eric: First of all, your tar images are very well chosen and a delight to the eye. Are you the first (reference to your comment on the cliche thread) or only one to choose this as subject matter? No, of course not. We have to accept that the photographic eye is drawn to the same elements of visual interest; whatever one sees - in shadow patterns, reflections, etc. etc. - is the same that draws the attention of other optical hunters. I, too, have done a series of sewer covers years ago and years before that. Among names artists, Aaron Siskind was inclined to follow along asphalt roads for this very subject, although for his published work, he preferred flat planes parallel with the film plane. I prefer your approach of photographing them as they appear to us in the world. I frankly tire of Siskind's emulation of abstract expressionist paintings - even understanding that he was very close to that community. The occasional drain lends nice spice/counterpoint to the "zen brush strokes". You have done this sub-genre proud.

@Russell: I'll readily admit to having been influenced both by Siskind and by Minor White, who also has some "pavement" photos. I don't recall any offhand by either Adams or Weston.I'd love to see your sewer covers. Are any of them online?

From my experience, those who suffer memory loss due to aging only lose their short term memory. Forgetting things that happened weeks ago is normal, making you a youngster. Now, what was I saying?

Yes, your tar work do remind me of calligraphy. Have you considered creating a sequence of tars that strongly resemble alphabets (or characters of some language), which can form meaningful words or verses? The chosen words and verses can convey some "meaning", which of course is the opposite of creating abstracts. Titling the sequence with the words or verses would also be interesting. Without any hints from you, only the most observant will be able to get it.

It's been quite awhile since I last visited your site. Where did that textured background come from?

From my experience, those who suffer memory loss due to aging only lose their short term memory. Forgetting things that happened weeks ago is normal, making you a youngster. Now, what was I saying?

Yes, I knew that, but I forgot.

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Yes, your tar work do remind me of calligraphy. Have you considered creating a sequence of tars that strongly resemble alphabets (or characters of some language), which can form meaningful words or verses? The chosen words and verses can convey some "meaning", which of course is the opposite of creating abstracts. Titling the sequence with the words or verses would also be interesting. Without any hints from you, only the most observant will be able to get it.

That sounds like quite a complex undertaking. I have thought of trying to create an "abecedaria" which would be a sequence of 26 road tar images each looking like a letter of the English alphabet (I'm not ready to take on Kanji yet). When I get part way there, I may call on you to help me put verses to the letters (from bad to verse?).

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It's been quite awhile since I last visited your site. Where did that textured background come from?

I got tired of the plain white background and googled some backgrounds until I found a few that seemed sufficiently neutral to put behind the photos.